Campaigners in Mid Norfolk are celebrating the news that the two most actively fought closures have been stopped.

Of the 69 proposed closures in Norfolk and West Suffolk only two in Mid Norfolk and one in Norwich have been saved.

George Freeman, organiser of the campaign to save Mid Norfolk Post Offices said:
"Whilst this is clearly great news for all of us who have campaigned for Beeston and Buckenham - showing that local community campaigning CAN make a difference - the general effect of 69 closures across the area will be devastating to many rural communities."

"We need to be vigilant in making sure the Post Office do not apply their threatened 'one for one' policy and use this as an excuse to make more cuts elsewhere."

The Save Mid Norfolk Post Office campaign involved setting up a website and an e-petition, door knocking by local volunteers, councillors and campaigners, mass rallies and a last minute petition to Downing Street with Norfolk MP's Christopher Fraser (SW Norfolk) and Keith Simpson (current Mid Norfolk).

Speaking at Beeston Post Office with jubilant residents on Monday morning as news broke of the reprieve George said: "This is excellent news for Beeston and Buckenham and neighbouring villages. Local residents came out in force against the proposed closures and it looks like a rare victory for common sense over bureaucracy. But rural communities shouldn't have to fight to protect their basic services like this."

"Closure of Beeston PO would have resulted in locals having to walk nearly 3 miles on a narrow, busy road with no pavement for most of the way to the next nearest post office in Litcham. No-one from the PO Closures Team can have walked the proposed route or they could never have suggested it.

"The community of Beeston and the neighbouring villages are however the lucky ones - the closure of other post offices is still a tragedy, particularly for the elderly and those on low incomes who are reliant on their local post office for so much more than just stamps. We are now eagerly awaiting the full results when we will learn of the fate of others."

Mr Freeman challenged the Government to use the time ahead to think more positively about the role of the Post Offices and to consider deregulation to promote Post Offices as rural enterprise hubs:

"Post Offices could be helped to develop their traditional role as community hubs and centres of enterprise. They should be allowed to run more services such as rural IT, training, perhaps even linked to social services and council outreach. With imagination they could be supported at little cost as one stop shops offering a range of services necessary to those living in rural areas.

"Instead of the Government cutting rural services whilst wasting money on daft new headline grabbing schemes, why not back the facilities people know and love?"

Photo: Campaigners celebrate news that Beeston Post Office will remain open.